Mom Goals '25: Animated Mothers Who Show What Motherhood Really Means.
The month of May is the time of the year we celebrate animation with Ani-May, and even more importantly, moms everywhere for Mother’s Day. So, for AniMay 2025, I’d like to take a look at some key figures in animation, and how they best exemplify motherhood and what it means to be a mom.
First, let’s take a look at Western Animation with Bob’s Burgers. Bob’s Burgers is an animated series that follows the Belcher family as they live their lives and struggle to make ends meet with their family restaurant, the titular Bob’s Burgers. Linda Belcher, matriarch of the series’ main family, is someone I believe wholeheartedly exhibits what it means to be a mother. Linda is an outspoken champion not just of her children, but of her husband and most importantly, herself. When things get difficult for the Belchers, Linda is the first one to pick herself up and keep moving – the one who is always pushing for a solution and seeing the positive. Linda is always doing things for her kids like making them Halloween costumes and gossiping with them about what’s going on at school.
However, like any real mom, Linda is not just her relationship to her kids. Her theatrical personality might embarrass other people; Linda loves to sing out loud and make wild decisions that sometimes blow up in her face. However, the Belcher kids are never ashamed of their mom, and this is because she raised them to never be ashamed of who they are or what they do. That, to me, is a core principle of being a mom – embracing your kids for who they are, not who you might want them to be. More than that, having kids didn’t take Linda’s personality away. If anything, it made her shine brighter.
Next, let’s take a look to the East with Japanese Anime, specifically Ranking of Kings. Ranking of Kings follows Bojji, son of the late King Bosse, who was cursed at birth to be powerless. Despite this, and his own deaf-mute condition, Bojji aspires to be the next greatest King of the realm. Among anime moms, Queen Hilling stands head and shoulders above anyone in the genre in my opinion. In fact, she was the reason I wanted to write this article. For those unfamiliar, Queen Hilling is the ruler of the Bosse Kingdom, and the step-mother of the series’ protagonist, Bojji. Initially, Hilling appears cold and hostile to her step-son, however this is not the truth. In fact, Hilling is deeply concerned for Bojji’s safety, and only scolds him because she believes he will get hurt if he doesn’t follow her rules. This is something she stops after seeing how much Bojji has grown, both in strength and maturity.
That said, it’s through a series of flashbacks that we see how deeply she cares for Bojji. Hilling does everything she can to endear herself to Bojji at first, bringing him sweets and toys, but this doesn’t work. It’s only after Hilling learns sign language, and heals a snake that Bojji liked, that she and Bojji begin to connect, and become a real family. To me, this is one of the most important aspects of being a mother – making an effort. When it comes to kids, especially step-children, the key to being a good parent is simply making the time to get to understand them. Being willing to bridge the gap, and listen to what your child needs, rather than assuming what they want. Hilling is a great character in her own right, and one of the best examples of positive step-parents in fiction.
Finally, let’s look at one other avenue of animation – video games. Specifically, I’d like to look at Toriel from Undertale. Undertale is a unique RPG where you as the player can choose to fight or spare any monster you come across while trapped in a place simply called The Underground. Toriel is a kind, benevolent goat woman who finds you when you first arrive in The Underground, and guides you through the opening area of the game. She teaches you how to spare monsters, and invites you into her home to stay with her. Obviously, for the game to continue, you need to leave Toriel’s home, at which point she stops you, and demands that you fight her to pass through the doors to the rest of The Underground. You as the player have the choice to do as she says, or to spare her. When I first played Undertale, I believed it was impossible to spare Toriel, based on what she’d said, and so I fought her.
This would prove to be a heart-wrenching mistake as I was subjected to Toriel’s death – something that made me realize the intangible, almost unconscious factor that is required to be a mother: Love. In the short time that I had known Toriel, she had treated me with nothing but kindness and warmth. Even as she died, she wasn’t angry. She simply asked that I spare the other monsters from her fate. It’s that depth of kindness and the love that comes with it that is quintessential to being a mother, and one that Toriel displays so brilliantly. Thankfully, I could go back and undo my mistake (even if the game remembered what I did, and taunted me for it afterwards with a monologue from the game’s villain, Flowey).
Final Thoughts
Animation, as a medium can express a vast variety of things, including motherhood. Being a mom is no easy task; it’s one that takes passion, effort, and most importantly, love. Each of these mothers in animation embodies that aspect perfectly, and provides a window into how their children are raised. There’s no job tougher or more rewarding than parenting, and for Mother’s Day 2025, be sure to remember that. Are there any mothers in animation you think are great? Let us know in the comments section below, and, if you can, remember to call or give a shoutout to your mom.
